Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is the founder and CEO of the Virgin Group, presiding over approximately 400 companies. He set up the company in 1970. Due to this successful business, according to the 2011 list for Forbes billionaires, Branson is the fourth richest citizen in the UK, according to Forbes listing. He boasts an estimated net worth of US$4.2 billion. It was in 1984 that Branson established Virgin Atlantic Airways. In 1983 he entered the railway business, which, at the time, was not seen as a stable move. However, Virgin Trains were awarded the franchises for the Intercity West Coast and Cross-Country British Rail sectors. In 1999 he launched Virgin Mobile.